The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) has entered into a historic agreement with Copy Ghana, a leading collective management organization in the copyright sector, to provide students and staff with legal access to photocopying academic materials.
The agreement establishes a framework that balances academic access with the protection of intellectual property rights. Under the new arrangement, students will pay a token fee of 7.5 Ghanaian Cedis per academic year, granting them legal authorization to photocopy learning materials for educational use.
The Vice-Chancellor of UENR, Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, described the agreement as a progressive step in advancing academic excellence at the University. He noted that access to learning materials is a critical component of higher education and commended Copy Ghana for its role in ensuring that students benefit from these resources within a legal and ethical framework.
Speaking on the development, Legal Officer of the University, Mr. Hinneh Barima-Agyekum, noted that the agreement eliminates the risk of copyright infringement and provides peace of mind for the university community. He explained the University has the license to allow its students and staff to make photocopies and use materials for academic purposes without breaching the law.
Executive Director of Copy Ghana, Mr. Joseph Baffour Gyamfi, emphasized that the initiative safeguards the interests of both creators and users. He described Copy Ghana as a “middleman organization” that ensures authors are fairly compensated while institutions enjoy easy access to essential academic resources.
Since 2015, Copy Ghana has signed similar blanket license agreements with over 72 educational institutions, including the University of Ghana, all 10 technical universities, and all 46 colleges of education. The partnership with UENR marks another milestone in ensuring a responsible and sustainable approach to knowledge sharing.
